Kevin Hart Slammed Over Response to Jussie Smollett Attack

The Night School actor sent a message to the 35-year-old in the wake of a racist and homophobic incident that left him with a fractured rib. Hart sent "prayers" to Smollett, adding that he found the incident "disgusting." He urged the Empire star to "stand strong" in the wake of the attack, but fans aren't pleased with Hart's sudden support of the LGBTQ community.

"Sending prayers your way @JussieSmollett....This is unbelievably sad," Hart wrote. "Why are we going backwards....this is disgusting. We has people have to do better. WTF is going on in the world???? Why are we falling in love with hate??? God damn it people....Choose love...I repeat...Choose love. I will forever choose love and I will continue to teach my kids how to do the same. Stand strong brother."

Several fans replied to the tweet, sent not long after Hart came under fire for old homophobic tweets. Many noted that the attack on Smollett is an example of why Hart's jokes were so hurtful and "never funny."

"This is why someone's jokes about beating their gay son were never funny," popular Twitter personality, and TV writer, Ira Madison III replied.

"Where are all you 'OMG! it was just a joke! Clearly, Kevin Hart was just kidding! No one can take a joke anymore!' pieces of s--- now?" another person tweeted.

A fourth said, "You can't really think after the jokes and half ass apologies you gave that your prayers would carry any power."

Hart hasn't responded to the backlash. He likely will not after a lengthy press run to address losing his Oscars hosting gig over his old jokes.

The Chicago Police Department continues to investigate the attack on Smollett. The actor, who came out in 2015, was taken to a local hospital to be treated for injuries after he was attacked by two white men in ski masks shouting racist and homophobic slurs at him. Smollet was beaten, had a chemical substance poured on him and a noose wrapped around his neck.

He was released from the hospital the day after the attack and is in "good condition" medically, police said. The incident is being treated as a potential hate crime.